Sheet material clip



June 5, 1956 o. J. POUPITCH SHEET MATERIAL CLIP Filed Feb. 15, 1955 04 MNNVN 0 00 0 0 00. 0 0

United States Patent() SHEET MATERIAL CLIP Ougljesa Jules Poupitch, Itasca, Ill., assignor to Illinois Tool Works, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February 15, 1955, Serial No. 488,207

8 Claims. (Cl. 155-184) The present invention relates to a novel securing device or clip, and more particularly, to a novel clip for use with generally channel-shaped molding strips for securing upholstery or fabric panels to a Work structure.

As is well known, the upholstery and fabric panels used in automobiles are usually secured to the automobile seats or frame structures around Windows, doors and the like, by suitable devices and then garnish molding strips are secured to the Work structures to cover the margins of the fabric. It is an important object of the present invention to provide a novel sheet material clip adapted to be assembled with a garnish molding strip and constructed so as to engage and hold a fabric panel or the like taut.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel sheet material clip for securing a fabric panel and the like to a Work structure in a taut condition and also for securing a molding strip to the work structure.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel sheet metal clip of the above described type which is of simple and economical construction and which may be easily applied to the fabric panel and the molding strip.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective View showing the inner side of an assembly including a molding strip and a clip embodying the principles of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing how amolding strip and a sheet material clip formed in accordance with the present invention are to be applied to a work structure and a fabric panel;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the molding strip and sheet material clip fully assembled with the work structure;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4-=4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view showing a modified form of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view showing a clip structure embodying another modified form of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective View showing the clip structure of Fig. 6 before application to a molding strip; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view partially broken away showing the clip structure of Figs. 6 and 7 assembled with a molding strip and a Work structure.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, a clip 1%)" embodying the principles of this invention is shown in Figs. 1 through 4. The clip 10' is adapted to be assembled with a generally channel-shaped molding strip 12 having an outer wall 14, opposite side Walls 26 and 18, and opposed inturned flanges and 22. In Figs. 2 and 3 the panel 24 represents a part of the work structure which is to be at least partially covered by upholstery or a fabric panel 26. The Work structure 24 and the fabric 26 may be of the type ice found, for example, in automobiles around the doors and the ceiling or in the seats. However, various other uses for the novel clip of this invention will suggest themselves.

The clip 10 which is made from resilient sheet material 7 such as spring steel includes a body portion 28 adapted is applied to the Work structure.

to traverse the molding strip. In this embodiment, a resilient tab 39 is struck from the body portion and extends laterally from one side thereof for engagement with the outer wall 14 of the molding strip. The tab functions to hold opposite ends 32 and 34 of the body portion against the molding strip and more particularly, against the inturned flanges of the molding strip so as to resist relative displacement of the clip and the molding strip. This enables the clip to be applied to the molding strip before it The end 34 of the body portion is reversely bent as shown and a flexible finger portion 36 extends from this end and flares laterally from the body portion out of the molding strip. The free end of the resilient finger portion 36 is provided with a plurality of teeth 38 which are adapted to engage and v in spaced relationship, as will be understood.

hold the fabric panel.

In accordance with the present invention the fabric panel 26 is secured to the work structure by first assembling several of the clips 12 with the molding strip Then the molding strip and clip assembly is disposed against the work structure as shown in Fig. 2 so that the teeth 38 dig into the fabric panel. After the teeth have been embedded in the fabric panel, the molding strip and clip assembly is pressed firmly against the Work structure so that the resilient finger portion 36 of each clip is flexed toward the body portion 28 and toward a parallel relationship with the body portion. This causes the fabric panel to be drawn beneath the molding strip and to be placed under tension. Finally, the molding strip is secured to the workpiece by a plurality of screw members 40 which are passed through aligned apertures 42 and 44 in the molding strip and body portion 28 and threaded into the Work structure. It should be appreciated that the clip 10 will not only serve to secure the fabric panel but also will cooperate with the screw in mounting the molding strip on the work structure.

In Fig. 5 there is shown a modified form of the present invention which is similar to the above described structure as indicated by the application of identical reference numerals with the suflix a added to corresponding ele ments. This embodiment difiers in that the flexible body portion 28a of the clip is formed so that it is normally longer than the distance between the opposite walls 16:: and 18a of the molding strip. With this arrangement the body portion must be flexed from the broken line position to the solid line position for insertion within the molding strip, and the inherent resiliency of the sheet metal yieldably holds opposite ends of the body portion against opposite sides of the molding strip to resist relative dis placement of the clip and the molding strip.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show another modified form of the present invention which is similar to the above described structures as indicated by the application of identical reference numerals with the suitix b added to corresponding elements. In this embodiment the clip liib is especially adapted to be applied to the work structure and fabric panel first whereupon the molding strip may be snapped onto the clip. More specifically, the body portion 28b is provided with a laterally oifset resilient section 50 which connects opposite ends of the body portion so that the ends may be collapsed toward each other during applica tion of the molding strip to the clip. After the clip has been assembled, the resilient section serves to yieldably hold opposite ends of the clip against opposite sides of the molding strip. Preferably, the free marginal edge of the end portion 32b is turned inwardly, as shown, to facilitate entry of the end between the flange 22b and outer wall of the molding strip. It should be noted that the inturncd marginal edge of the end portion 32b is laterally offset from the mid-portion of the body 28b sufficiently to provide clearance for the inturned flange of the molding strip. Furthermore, the body is provided with a transversely extending section 52 so that the end portion 34b is also laterally offset from the middle of the body to provide clearance for the opposite inturned flange of the molding strip. A screw member of stud 49/; is connected with the middle section of the body 23b so that upon application of the clip to the work structure, the mid section of the body may be drawn tightly against the work structure and fabric panel. In order to hold the fabric panel more securely and to prevent the clip 10]; from twisting after it has been applied to the work structure and before the molding strip has been applied, the clip structure 1th) is provided with a pair of fabric engaging flexible fingers 36]) disposed on opposite sides of the stud. More specifically, as is shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the end portion 3411 of the body includes laterally extending sections -4 and 56, and the flexible finger portions extend from outer ends of the sections.

From the above description it is seen that the present invention has provided a novel clip which may be easily applied to a work structure and fabric panel and which will function to place the fabric panel under tension during application to the work structure and securely hold the panel under tension. Furthermore, it is seen that the present invention has provided a simple sheet material clip which may be used to mount a molding strip to the work structure as well as to hold the fabric panel under tension.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A sheet material clip of the type described comprising a body portion for traversing a generally channelshapcd molding strip, a resilient finger portion connected with and flaring from said body portion for projecting from said molding strip. and means on a free end of said resilient finger portion for engaging and holding a fabric panel overlying a work structure so that upon application of the clip to the work structure said resilient finger portion is flexed toward said body portion to place said fabric panel under tension.

2. A sheet material clip of the type described comprising a body portion for traversing a generally channelshaped molding strip, means on said body portion for engaging the molding strip resisting relative displacement of the clip and molding strip, a resilient finger portion connected with and flaring from said body portion for projecting from said molding strip, and means on a free end of said resilient finger portion for engaging and holding a fabric panel overlying a work structure so that upon application of the clip to the work structure said resilient finger portion is flexed towards the body portion to place said fabric panel under tension.

3. A sheet material clip of the type described comprising a body portion for traversing a generally channelshaped molding strip, means on said body portion for engaging the molding strip for resisting relative displacement of the clip and molding strip, a resilient finger pon tion connected with and flaring from said body portion for projecting from said molding strip, and a plurality of teeth on a free end of said resilient finger portion for engaging and holding a fabric panel overlying a work structure so that upon application of the clip to the work .4 structure said resilient finger portion is flexed towards said body portion to place said fabric panel under tension.

4. A sheet material clip of the type described comprising a body portion for traversing a generally channelshaped molding clip, means on said body portion for engaging the molding strip for resisting relative displacement of the clip and molding strip, aperture means in said body portion for receiving a member such as a screw for securing the clip to a work structure, a resilient finger portion connected with and flaring from said body portion for projecting from said molding strip towards said work structure, and means on a free end of said flexible finger portion for engaging and holding a fabric panel overlying said work structure so that upon application of the clip to the work structure said resilient finger portion is flexed towards said body portion to place said fabric panel under tension.

5. A sheet material clip of the type described comprising a body portion for traversing a generally channelshaped molding strip, resilient means extending from said body portion for engaging the molding strip and resisting relative displacement of the clip and molding strip, said resilient means adapting said clip for application to molding strips of different sizes, a resilient finger portion connected with and flaring from said body portion for projecting from said molding strip, and means on a free end of said resilient finger portion for engaging and holding a fabric panel overlying a work structure so that upon application of the clip to the work structure said resilient finger portion is flexed toward said body portion to place said fabric panel under tension.

6. a sheet material clip, as defined in claim 5, wherein said resilient means includes a tab struck from said body portion and extending oppositely from said resilient finger portion for engaging an outer wall of said generally channel-shaped molding strip and resiliently holding opposite end portions of said body portion against opposed flanges extending inwardly from opposite side walls of the molding strip.

7. A sheet material clip, as defined in claim 5, wherein said resilient means includes a resilient section extending laterally of said body portion and integrally joining opposite ends of said body portion for resiliently holding said opposite ends against opposite sides of the generally channel-shaped molding strip.

8. A sheet material clip of the type described comprising a resilient body portion for traversing a generally channel-shaped molding strip, said body portion normally having a length greater than a distance between opposite side walls of the generally channel-shaped molding strip so that opposite ends of the body portion will be resiliently urged against said opposite side walls upon assembly of the clip and molding strip so as to resist relative dis placement of the clip and molding strip, a resilient finger portion connected with and flaring from said body portion for projecting from said molding strip, and means on a free end of said resilient finger portion for engaging and holding a fabric overlying a work structure so that upon application of the clip to the work structure said resilient finger portion is flexed toward said body portion to place the fabric panel under tension.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,652,302 Eaglesfield Dec. 13, 1927 1,757,515 Crowe May 6, 1930 1,879,257 Howard Sept. 27, 1932 2,473,400 Waara June 14, 1949 2,579,279 Tinnerman Dec. 18, 1951 2,618,998 Poupitch Nov. 25, 1952 

